How to create an emergency plan

Everyone in your family should know your emergency plan. You might not all be together when an emergency happens.

Create a plan now for how you'll keep in contact and find one another. Keep this in mind when creating your plan:

• Find someone who lives outside Boston that can be a contact.
• Create two meeting areas for your family: one near your home and one outside your neighborhood.
• Make sure you know where your nearest emergency centers are.
• If you spend a lot of time at places out of your home, learn their emergency plans.
• Remember to include any family members with special needs in your plans.
• The Family Preparedness Planner can walk you through creating an emergency plan.
• Complete and print out the Ready Boston Communications Form, and keep it in a place where it’s easy to access. You can put all the important info and contact numbers for your family on it.

You should also create emergency kits for everyone in your family. Learn how to create an emergency kit.

You can educate your children about emergencies and how to prepare with these resources:

• Our department created an activity book for kids.
• Discovery Education teaches kids about severe weather.
• Sesame Street has videos and songs about emergency planning.
• Ready Kids is the Department of Homeland Security's site for kids.

If you are a senior or a person with a disability, you may not have access to hospitals and pharmacies in an emergency. Please remember these tips:

• Build a support network of people who can help you. You should include at least one contact outside Boston.
• When you complete a Ready Boston Communications form, give a copy to everyone in your personal network.
• Plan ahead in case you need handicap transportation. You should also figure out how to deal with daily activities without tools or aids for your disability.
• Keep information about any medical conditions or disabilities you have close. You should also put extra medications in your home emergency kit. Have instructions ready on how to use life-saving devices or equipment that you need.
• Let your employer and co-workers know about your condition and how they can help you in an emergency. If you have a service animal, you'll be able to take them to a shelter with you.